Estimation of the Leaf Water Potential in Rice by the Pressure Chamber Technique

The pressure chamber technique is now widely adopted for the measurement of leaf water potential. The technique is simple and rapid, but several precautions are necessary to ensure reliable results10). It is especially important to prevent rapid water loss after leaf excision, as demonsterated by Turner and Long9) This study was undertaken to examine the effects of the rate of pressure increase and of transpirational water loss on the estimate of the leaf water potential in rice by the pressure chamber technique. A lowland rice cultivar, Nipponbare, was used throughout the study.